Objective To investigate the effect of Astragalin on human renal mesangial cells. Methods Cultured human mesangial cells
were treated with Astragalin and Astragalin serum in different concenrations in the presence of PDGF-BB,the
proliferation and type Ⅳ collagen secretion of mesangial cells were measured by MTT assay and ELISA, and expression of β1 integrin gene was estimated by RT-PCR method, respectively. Results After 72 hours of Astragalin or Astragalin serum treatment, the proliferation of mesangial cells induced by PDGF-BB was inhibited significantly in a dose-dependent manner compared with untreated control(P < 0. 05 ). After 24 hours of Astragalin or Astragalin serum treatment, the secretion of type Ⅳ collagen protein in the presence of PDGF-BB was significantly decreased and β1 integrin mRNA level decreased significantly compared with untreated control(P < 0. 05 and P < 0. 01 ). Down-regulation of β1 integrin mRNA expression was significantly correlated with inhibition of
mesangial cell proliferation and decrease of the type Ⅳ collagen protein secretion(P < 0. 05 and P < 0. 01 ). Conclusion Astragalin can inhibit proliferation and matrix over-synthesis of HMC, and down-regulate expression of β1 integrin on surface of HMC.